The Piña Colada cocktail is a popular drink that features the flavors found in this cheesecake. The combination of orange, pineapple, coconut and rum combine for a marvelous, tropical-inspired cheesecake.

Ingredients

Crust

1 3/4

cups graham cracker crumbs

6

tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Filling

3

packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

1/4

cup sugar

3

eggs

3/4

cup cream of coconut

1/4

cup light rum

2

teaspoons grated orange peel

1

can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, drained, juice reserved

Glaze

Reserved 1/2 cup pineapple juice

2

teaspoons cornstarch

1/4

cup sugar

Garnish

1

can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, drained

1

jar (24 oz) refrigerated sliced mango, drained, chopped

Fresh mint leaves, if desired

Directions

1Heat oven to 325°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan with foil to prevent leaking. Spray inside bottom and side of pan with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press crust mixture on bottom of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set.

2In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs; one at a time; just until blended. On low speed, beat in remaining filling ingredients except pineapple. Gently fold in pineapple. Pour over crust.

3Bake 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.

5In large bowl, toss glaze with pineapple and mango. Spoon onto top of cheesecake. Garnish with mint leaves.

Expert Tips

Use a food processor to quickly and easily make the graham cracker crumbs.

When making any cheesecake, be sure to have the cream cheese, eggs and other ingredients at room temperature. Also, this is not the time to select low-fat or fat-free cream cheese or sour cream, as these will not work as well nor will the low fat varieties create the best flavor and texture for the finished cake.